Since Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy, Clint Eastwood has been one of the most influential men in Hollywood, and nowhere is that as true as in the Western genre. Having played the role of lawman, bounty hunter, mercenary and more, his characters helped define the revisionist side of the genre in a way no other star has. While John Wayne might have brought a more heroic persona to the West, it was Eastwood who reinvented its heroes as morally-grey characters with a one-liner for every occasion.

Clint Eastwood's Western movies have explored a range of topics and themes, from delivering anti-war messages to deconstruction of the genre itself. Through his characters' dialogue, the actor-director has shaped audience understanding of the Old West for years to come. Some of his lines go above and beyond in both defining and explaining what makes the Western genre tick.

"Get Three Coffins Ready." The Man With No Name,...